FG,ASUU sign fresh pact to stabilise university system
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities will on Wednesday, January 14, formalise a new agreement aimed at improving the quality of Nigeria’s university education system and ensuring long-term industrial stability.
The Ministry of Education announced on Sunday that the agreement signing ceremony will take place at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja.
The event will be presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad.
The development follows a recent 14-day ultimatum issued by ASUU, which was later withdrawn after overnight negotiations between the union and government representatives.
In a statement, the ministry said the new agreement reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to constructive engagement with critical stakeholders and its preference for resolving industrial disputes through dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation.
The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, noted that the formalisation of the agreement is the outcome of years of sustained engagement between the Federal Government and ASUU to address recurring industrial disputes in the university system.
According to the ministry, the agreement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which recognises education as a key driver of national development, human capital advancement and socio-economic transformation.
It added that the agreement is expected to promote industrial peace, create a more conducive academic environment and restore confidence among students, university staff and the general public.
The ministry disclosed that the unveiling ceremony will be attended by senior government officials, ASUU leaders, heads of tertiary institutions, development partners and members of the media.
The dispute between the Federal Government and ASUU has remained a persistent challenge for Nigeria’s higher education sector, with repeated disagreements over funding, conditions of service and the implementation of past agreements.
Over the years, ASUU has embarked on several strike actions to demand increased funding for public universities, improved welfare for lecturers and the full implementation of earlier accords, particularly unresolved aspects of the 2009 agreement that has been central to many of the union’s industrial actions.
The most recent major disruption occurred in October 2025, when ASUU commenced a two-week nationwide strike.
Such strikes have frequently disrupted academic calendars, sometimes lasting for months, leading to lost academic time, delayed graduations and increased migration of students to private institutions and foreign universities.